Newcastle quick to reap rewards

By Rob Wildman

12:01AM GMT 25 Nov 2003

The "Wilkinson factor" was being felt at Kingston Park yesterday as councillors proposed making the World Cup winner a freeman of Newcastle and a stream of people bought tickets for Saturday's game, where a glimpse, at least, of Jonny is promised.

He admitted that the phone system was struggling to cope with the demand for the visit of Wasps. The return of Jonny Wilkinson, more likely to be as a spectator rather than a player, means that Newcastle are hoping for a sell-out crowd of 10,000 for the first time at Kingston Park.

"We have had to alter the switchboard," Thompson said. "Everyone in the club has booking forms and when the phone rings it goes to the first phone that is free. Everyone is taking bookings."

Having borrowed some £12 million to fund a ground revamp, Thompson has a vested interest in keeping Wilkinson at the club. Though the fly-half has already signed until 2005, the millionaire businessman and rugby nut accepts that Newcastle must keep expanding to retain the ambitious Wilkinson.

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"I would hope we can satisfy his ambition to keep him here for a long time to come. And if we can't do that then we are not serving the ambition of the area," Thompson said.

"Jonny's 24 and has a long time ahead. It is sometimes difficult to know what his ambitions are. He's achieved a lot in a very short period of time and must now take stock. He's been part of our club for six years and everyone, truly, is delighted for him."

Steve Black, the club's long-serving fitness adviser, believes that Wilkinson could play until his mid-30s. "The training is no problem, though you have to say your prayers when he plays, because he tackles so ferociously."

Black doubted that he would forsake rugby to take up American football. "Why does he need to? He's worked very hard to get to the top in one sport, and I think he would not be satisfied with just taking the kicks," he said.

As an enthusiastic youth team coach, Thompson remembers the effect of England reaching the World Cup final in 1991. Then the team ended up as narrow losers, but the excitement still doubled numbers at the weekly mini and youth sessions run by the Gosforth club.

"I think the game is in better shape to handle the influx this time. However, every club must make sure they have enough coaches and volunteers to cope. The problem isn't gaining the youngsters, but retaining them," he said.

Thompson has a vision of England's success generating "20,000 Wilkinsons" and aims to have increased average attendances at Newcastle from 6,000 to 13,000 by the next World Cup.

"Rugby could become a very strong second sport to football, but it would take an awful long time, if ever, to challenge football," he said. As for the politicians, Tony Flynn, the leader of Newcastle City Council, is proposing that Wilkinson is made a freeman to join a group led by Jackie Milburn, Alan Shearer and Jonathan Edwards.